Now, to be clear, for those who may not no the specifics of the ‘you only live once’ mode of thinking, ‘yolo’ is a modern development of the carpe diem (Latin: seize the day) lifestyle. It is focused on living ‘in the moment’ and is exemplified by extreme risk taking, drug use, alcoholism, etc. Now, while there has always been followers of similar “in the moment” lifestyles (carpe diem) I have felt that those previous movements and lifestyles pushed the extreme, but that the new movement was well passed that extreme. Whether or not someone chooses to live such a lifestyle is none of my business, personal thoughts aside. However, I would like to call attention to what I believe is, beyond the possible physical negatives of these lifestyles, the further ramifications of a growing trend in youth culture. So here’s what happened: Today in my sociology class we were learning about the function of education in society and were discussing the role of homework in the process of learning. Let me be clear, this thread is not about the supposed usefulness or uselessness in the learning process; it is just some background. During this discussion the time in which homework takes up was brought up, and a girl in my class expressed her dislike for that because it caused her a great deal of stress. She described how, for about a third of the year, she would spend, for a few days every week, about fifteen hours in school, due to various extracurricular activities, and how she would have little time to do anything but homework afterward, and that this constant work was the cause of her stress. Of course I then suggested that if that situation ever came up again in college (we’re both seniors) she might want to consider abandoning a few extracurricular activities in favor of a few extra hours to study or have some free time. It was in her response that I made observation regarding the youth culture of ‘you only live once’. When I made my suggestion, her response was along the lines of: “What? No way! Why?” The answer, as well as her tone and demeanor at the time were what perturbed me. It wasn’t that she had said something outrageous or fantastical, it was simply the ramifications implied that disturbed me. Think about it: homework and the like, though debatable in their effectiveness, are, in the system of education and educational socialization in American society, necessary. Homework can directly affect the grades of a student, which will effect their decision on higher education, which can determine much of the direction of an individual’s future socioeconomic position. Using this to define the importance of homework, I think we can agree that homework, under this view, can be seen as necessary, as something that, like it or not, must be done. Like taxes (again, not up for debate) or other day-to-day necessary action that keeps an individual’s life and society functioning. The implied ramification of her statement is: the necessary is not the most important. Rather, that enjoyable activities, in her case choir, drama, color guard, and other student and church organizations take precedence because of the pleasure gained from doing them. While I’m not saying that doing activates that you enjoy is not a worthwhile pursuit of time and energy, I am saying that when you must decide what takes precedence, doing something like paying the energy bill is slightly more important then your bird watching hobby. While not as bold as the party hardy attitude of ‘yolo’ or carpe diem, I feel that this shift in thinking lies just along those lines and is quite a bit more detrimental to society because of its obscure and almost unnoticeable effects in the youth culture. When the necessary becomes the least important, society degrades.
So long story short you feel that kids are not able to balance time between "free time" and work and that this is effecting youth culture.
Not that. It's just that I see youth culture becoming more and more egotistical, and action on the wants of the individual rather than what is necessary.
Okay I see want your saying now, the idea that people act based on their own wants, more than the necessities of the society as a hole. Edit: because if thats what you're saying I would agree with you and I feel this is happening because people aren't united behide a goal anymore.
Yes, and my concern is that the current trend is just the remove the latter. Even to the level of the individual, people will knowingly choose other things over the necessities.
I dose seem that way and I do known people like that and I will say sometimes I do it too, but really people do have to focus on necessities in the end.
So you are saying that people with work to do shouldn't be frolicking around on an internet forums... Oh... this is akward.
No. Not like that. It wouldn't be like putting work off to do something you enjoy: that's just procrastinating. It is totally disregarding what must be done and placing more importance on going on the forum.
My generation is much lazier and blows off work because of the things we have available to us in comparison to past generations. Today we have Google, YouTube, Facebook, twitter, video games, free pornography, radio, iTunes, iPods, iPhones, laptops, computers, television, cable, movie theaters, the outdoors, Sweet foods, legos, more toys in general, etc. In 1950 they had the radio, some toys, hanging out, the outdoors, being racist, well that's it. Also there is how much easier things are today, in 1950 if you wanted to look up the word "drum" you had to use a dictionary, today you use Google.
In a Fascist like society. "yolo" or what ever the hell that means would not be acceptable at all. They'd all be in school receving the best education the state could give them. They would most likely be put into the work force or sent to train for the military so they could be ready to enlist. They certainly woulden't act how they are now, it just comes to show that too much freedom is not good at all in some areas.
Yeah, it's nuts that some would put human happiness above economic performance. What madness is this when youths want to enjoy their lives instead of working all time time in order to put in their 2 cents to the glorious motherland.
Surely there's a balance between spending time for your own benefut and spending time for the benefit of others in your society. That is what the OP is trying to say.
